Irish Bill Would Restrict Information

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 27, 2003

The Irish government proposed a bill Friday to restrict the public's right to see government papers, a move opposition politicians decried as an effort to safeguard the prime minister's hold on power.

Shortly after his 1997 election victory, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and his Fianna Fail party supported a Freedom of Information Act inspired by U.S. legislation. It allowed Cabinet papers to be published within five years and opened the door for opposition politicians and journalists to see internal government communications on matters of public dispute.

But Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy, unveiling the proposed restrictions, said Friday the existing freedom of information powers threaten to "undermine the workings of government."

The new bill would ban publishing Cabinet records for 10 years and allow senior civil servants to refuse access indefinitely to internal government documents, such as "briefing notes" produced for government ministers. Letters between government ministers also would be excluded.

For the government "to work effectively, records relating to government business need to be properly protected," McCreevy said. He said the new 10-year restriction on Cabinet documents still represented "a very liberal regime by international standards."

Opposition politicians and civil liberties groups accused Ahern and McCreevy of attempting to cover up the government's alleged duplicity, particularly on economic matters.

They noted that recent Freedom of Information requests had revealed McCreevy's finance department had strong indications early last year that Ireland's spending was fast outpacing tax revenue and that severe spending cuts were likely.

Ahern's government won a strengthened parliamentary majority in May 2002 elections after campaigning the economy would keep roaring and no cutbacks would be necessary. Within months, McCreevy was warning government spending would have to be cut on most fronts.

"Material capable of causing political embarrassment is to be sheltered from the critical gaze of the public," said Joan Burton, finance spokeswoman for the opposition Labor Party. "This is a government afraid of the public knowing too much."

Enda Kenny, leader of the opposition Fine Gael party, noted that Irish governments face re-election within five year, so keeping Cabinet papers secret for 10 years, rather than five, "very conveniently means that no Cabinet documents will be released before the next general election."

McCreevy insisted his government was simply supporting reforms suggested by a government-appointed committee of experts, including a recommendation that a fee be charged for Freedom of Information requests. Until now, the process had been free.